Southern, Kaikorai win cliffhangers
THERE were a couple of cliffhangers in club rugby on Saturday while Dunedin has probably said goodbye to its top four chances.
Southern beat Taieri 4442, while Kaikorai beat Green Island 3130. Harbour pulled away from AlhambraUnion in the second half and University scored 63 points against Dunedin.
Kaikorai beat Green Island by the width of the post.
The actual score was 3130 but all that was standing between victory and defeat was the upright at Bishopscourt — and the ball hit the outside of it.
Green Island first fiveeighth Ben Patston’s last minute dropped goal attempt was about 5cm too far to the right. But considering he had to lean forward, scoop up a bouncing pass and was off balance when he let fly, it was cracking attempt.
The win has kept Kaikorai in touch with the top four.
Ben Miller was a standout for the home side. The first fiveeighth scored a try, drilled all four conversions and knocked over a penalty from 45m in a topsyturvy encounter.
Highlanders and Green Island front rower Kalolo Tuiloma casts a large shadow and made an even bigger impact with two tries.
The first was from a simple ‘‘Willie Away’’ move from a 5m lineout. Josh Clark climbed high to make the take and passed straight to Tuiloma, who was unstoppable.
He also barged over late in the game to give Green Island a 3024 lead.
But then Kaikorai winger Jordan McEntee produced some dazzling dribbling skills from about 5m out, toeing the ball through to score.
Miller nailed the difficult conversion to snatch the lead and ultimately the win.
Southern’s McKenzie Haugh scored three tries — adding to three last week — to win the game at Bathgate Park.
In a very entertaining encounter, Haugh’s try was the difference in the match against Taieri which ebbed and flowed right through the 80 minutes.
There was some classy attacking play in the match and Taieri threw the ball around and used its forwards to get over the advantage line.
Southern started well and led 1714 at the break.
But Taieri fullback Josh Casey led the comeback from Taieri. Every time he touched the ball he made something happen, setting up some thrilling play for his side.
A 50m run from centre Matt Whaanga set up a try for Highlander James Lentjes, who played the second half.
That try put Taieri out to a 4232 lead with just over 10 minutes left.
But Southern did not give up and after replacement Louis Tili went over, Haugh finished off after a nice run from skipper Kyle Harris with two minutes left.
Casey and Whaanga were strong for Taieri as were hooker Tom Hardy and lock Vinnie O’Connell up front.
Harris and fellow loose forward Axel Hohneck were busy for Southern and Jono Hayes worked hard at first fiveeighth. Highlander Josh Ioane came on for Southern in the later stages.
In a match which had plenty of illdiscipline, Harbour was too strong in the end for a gallant AlhambraUnion.
AlhambraUnion pulled the score back to 17all about midway through the second half but Harbour pulled away to win and also pick up a valuable bonus point.
Harbour did not start well, with loose forward Naulia Dawai yellowcarded after 15 seconds for a high shot.
Other players to spend time on the sidelines for indiscretions were Harbour midfield back Sio Tomkinson, for a shoulder charge, and AlhambraUnion lock Hayden Fleury for dangerous play.
Harbour’s big ballcarriers were a constant menace for AlhambraUnion and Dawai ran hard all day while lock Alan Burling also played his part.
First fiveeighth Logan Allen
helped himself to 19 points and his two tries broke the back of any AlhambraUnion resistance.
Allen has grown this season and he kept his side in the right part of the field when it mattered.
AlhambraUnion did not throw in the towel and its lineout had a field day, constantly pilfering ball.
Forwards Ben Tuimanufili, Ben Webby and skipper Jacob Coughlan did plenty of work around the traps.
University showed why it is the leading team in the competition and it would be a major surprise if it does not win it all.
It totally outclassed a frankly embarrassing Dunedin outfit which conceded nine tries and is staring at a bottom four finish.
University scored three tries in the first spell as the Dunedin
backline thought it was playing touch rugby.
Midfielder Emeka Ilogu ran strongly and set up centre Kelvin Vari for the first of his two tries.
The game’s best player, fullback Taylor Haugh, by some distance set up the second from 90m out. He started the counterattack and some devastating offloads left centre Vari jogging in for his second.
First fiveeighth Mike Williams scored the third when he just ran out from the scrum to crash over, which summed up
the Dunedin defensive effort.
The second spell was all University. It ran in tries from all over the park, with the ‘‘Energiser bunny’’ Haugh scoring two himself and setting up all but one of the others.
The forward pack gave it plenty of ball from the lineout, especially as Dunedin only won three for the game.
Blindside flanker Sam Dickson was prominent at lineout time and was lively around the paddock.
Hooker Kilipati Lea was
efficient up front and very strong on the carry.
Halfback Connor McLeod and Williams controlled play well and gave the pacy outsides plenty of space and Haugh and winger Cam Gerlach had plenty of that.
Nobody stood out for Dunedin but it has serious workons in terms of its dysfunctional lineout, nonexistent tackling and its aimless wide passing in the backline. If it does not, it will be lucky to chalk up any more wins this season.